This week, Shân and Iolo go to Llanrwst to talk to the people who live there. Llanrwst is a Welsh town on the banks of the River Conwy. There’s an old stone bridge crossing the river.
Llanrwst is an old market town; there’s a mart and slaughter house there. There are many old buildings in the town. Today, tourism is important here.
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd seized the town in 1276 and raised his flag there. In 1947 they wanted the UN to make Llanrwst an independent state! There’s a song about “Cymru, Lloegr a Llanrwst” (Wales, England and Llanrwst).
Iolo goes to see the butcher Elystan Metcalfe. Elystan’s shop is famous for its meat and sausages. In 2000 Elystan was Wales’ best butcher in the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd.
Shân goes to the mart to speak to Bryn Davies and farmers. Bryn is an auctioneer and he works in the mart in Llanrwst. Shân tries to sell a ram in the mart.
Gwydir Castle was the home of Sir John Wynn and his family. Sir John (1533-1627) was a very important man and an MP. Iolo speaks to James Berry about Sir John and the castle.
James and Iolo go to see Llanrwst’s Almshouses. They also go to see St Crwst’s church. Crwst was a saint from the sixth century. The stone coffin of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) is in the church.
Dewi Jones and Wmffra Huws’ hobby was beer. Now, they and a group of friends have turned the hobby into a business. Shân talks to them about the beer - ‘Cwrw Corryn’, ‘Cwrw Chwaden Aur’ a ‘Cwrw Mwnci Nel’ – And she drinks the beer!
Mary Haerr is a woman from Llanrwst. She went on holiday to New York and came back with a husband and child! Today she runs Y Dolydd hotel in the town. Shân speaks in Welsh with Mary and in English with Nelson, the husband. Nelson worked with the fire service in New York on 9/11.
Welsh-speaker Pierino Algieri is a photographer. His photographs are on cards, calendars and jig-saws. Pierino’s father was a prisoner of war in Llanrwst. He worked on a farm and was in love with Pierino’s mother. Iolo goes for a walk with Pierino to hear his story.
Rhian Jones and Rhian Williams run the Siwgr a Sbeis company. Twenty people work for the company in a factory in Llanrwst. They make cakes for shops like Spar and Londis and also the Cadwalader shop in Cardiff. Shân tries to put piping on a cake!
The Tree Top Adventure Centre has been near Llanrwst since 2007. People go there to climb and walk on ropes. Iolo talks to Rhys Evans from the centre and goes on a ropes course.
Alun Tan Lan comes from Pandy Tudur near Llanrwst. He sings and writes songs. He lived in Ireland but now he has come home to Llanrwst with his partner and his little girl, Lili. Shân goes to talk with Alun.
